Unemployment drops in 2012 in Arlington Heights

Village faring better compared to metro area, state and nation

February 09, 2013|By Sally Ho, Chicago Tribune reporter

The unemployment rate in Arlington Heights saw another slight decline at the end of 2012, according to recently released data, and the village is faring better compared to the metro area, state and nation.

New figures from the Illinois Department of Employment Security show the percentage of people living in Arlington Heights who reported being unemployed was at 6.3 percent in December 2012. That number is down 0.2 percent from the previous month and down 0.3 percent from December 2011, IDES data shows.

Although less consistently, surrounding communities also saw dips to their unemployment rate, according to the figures.

In Palatine, the December 2012 unemployment rate was at 7 percent. That number is up 0.7 percent from the month before, but down 0.5 percent from the year before.

The Cook County portion of Buffalo Grove was also at 7 percent, down 0.5 percent from December 2011. The Lake County portion of Buffalo Grove fell to 6 percent, down 0.9 percent from the previous year.

Meanwhile, the unemployment rate in greater Chicago — including a region spanning Chicago, Joliet and Naperville — and statewide were both at 8.6 percent in December 2012, according to the Illinois Department of Employment Security. Across the state in December, the unemployment rate fell in nine out of 12 metro areas.

The national unemployment rate stood at 7.6 percent.

In Arlington Heights, the top employers with more than a thousand employees include Arlington Park, Northwest Community Healthcare, Township High School District 214 and Nokia Siemens Networks, said John Melaniphy, the village's business and development coordinator.

But Melaniphy credits the number of new national retailers who opened businesses in 2012 with bolstering the number of jobs offered locally. The village added 113 new businesses and 465 new jobs, notably the new H.H. Gregg electronics store, Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant and Binny's Beverage Depot, he said.

"The retail jobs aren't the highest paying jobs, but it creates demand for employment," Melaniphy said.

The vacancy rate for downtown retail space has also gone from 14 percent in 2008, to 12 percent in 2012, Melaniphy said. In about the same time, retail sales in the village have also increased from $977 million to about $1 billion.

"Unfortunately, we don't have anyone like Google or other major Fortune 500 companies, but we certainly are pushing and shoving to try to attract those companies to Arlington Heights," Melaniphy said. "We're still in the economic recovery, and we're encouraged by the employment gains and we expect to have an even better year in 2013."